The caladiums, often referred to under the German name buntblatt, belong to the arum family and are sometimes also known by the common name elephant ear due to the shape of the leaves. The exotic foliage plants have been cultivated as ornamental plants in many strikingly colored varieties since the 18th century.
How do I care for a variegated leaf as a houseplant?
The variegated leaf (caladium) is a tropical houseplant that prefers indirect light, temperatures between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius and high humidity. Care for the plant with a low-lime substrate, spray the leaves with room temperature rainwater and fertilize every 2 weeks in summer.
The colorful leaf is not hardy
The genus Caladium originally comes from tropical regions in Central and South America. Although the plant sheds all of its leaves at the end of each growing season and only overwinters in the underground tuber, the plant cannot tolerate sustained temperatures well below 10 degrees Celsius. Therefore, due to the large-leaved elephant ear, it can at best be placed outdoors seasonally as a container plant. In the house, however, the lifespan of the attractive and sometimes multi-colored leaves can be extended under suitable conditions before the caladiums eventually take a break at room temperature.
The perfect location in the house
As a houseplant, a caladium is only grateful for a place directly by the window under certain circumstances. Finally, the colored leaf can tolerate some morning or evening sun, but similar to the dragon tree, it should not be exposed to too much direct sunlight. Basically, the colored leaf should be placed in a warm room or near the heater, as it can grow optimally at temperatures between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius. In winter, the dormant tubers are stored in a cooler room at around 12 to 15 degrees Celsius. To prevent them from becoming moldy, they can be placed in dry peat. In spring, temperatures of at least 21 degrees Celsius are required for new growth.
Take optimal care of the colored leaf as a houseplant
So that the preferences of these exotic tropical plants are optimally met, the planter should be filled with a low-lime substrate with a high peat content (€379.00 at Amazon). It also has a beneficial effect on plant he alth if the leaves are occasionally sprayed with a little stale, room temperature rainwater. Also note the following care tips for particularly magnificent and large leaves on this valued ornamental foliage plant:
- Provide with some liquid fertilizer about every 2 weeks during the summertime
- as the leaves wilt before winter, gradually reduce watering
- Consistently high temperatures and high humidity promote leaf growth
Tip
When grown as a houseplant or in a greenhouse, the variegated leaf rarely forms inflorescences that visually resemble the flowers of a calla lily. However, offshoots can be obtained from the small nodules on the main tuber before it is placed in a freshly prepared planter for new growth.
